Montana Environmental Trust Group (METG), Trustee of the Montana Environmental Custodial Trust, is committed to informing stakeholders about its activities and involving the community wherever possible.

In various ways, METG seeks to proactively engage project partners and other community stakeholders in its work to remediate former ASARCO lands and facilitate property transfer for safe, productive, community-supported reuse.

Public and Stakeholder Meetings

  • METG has hosted public meetings at least annually to update the community on cleanup progress and reuse planning, answer questions, respond to concerns, and hear comments.
  • METG has participated in scores of local events—community meetings, stakeholder presentations, and workshops to review investigations and cleanup plans and provide opportunities for community input on potential future reuse.
  • METG has coordinated formal and informal discussions with City of East Helena, East Helena Public Schools, Lewis and Clark County, and State of Montana officials, as well as community members and other partners and stakeholders.

Outreach and Communications

  • METG has prepared and distributed fact sheets, flyers, and press releases to share updates and event information.
  • METG has shared technical documents and other materials via this website’s online information repository.
  • METG has sought public input on the slag pile by conducting the community survey.

Supporting Public and Community Projects and Events

  • METG has donated land to East Helena Public Schools to build the new Prickly Pear elementary school.
  • METG has transferred land to the City of East Helena and Lewis and Clark County to expand public roads and utilities and to build the new county Search and Rescue facility.
  • METG has facilitated donation of land to the City of East Helena for future public services and the new arena for the East Helena Valley Rodeo Association’s annual rodeo.
  • METG has transferred 322 acres of former ASARCO land to Prickly Pear Land Trust for the 8-mile Greenway Trail.
  • METG has collaborated with Helena Area Habitat for Humanity, Lewis and Clark County Historical Society, Prickly Pear Estates, and City of East Helena to save the 160-year-old Manlove Cabin by dismantling and relocating it to nearby land for its eventual reconstruction, preservation, and opening to the public.
  • METG has allowed the East Helena Volunteer Fire Department to use former ASARCO housing structures for live firefighter training programs, and the County Sheriff’s Office to use it for live explosion training.
  • METG has helped fund or hosted community events such as the East Helena Independence Day fireworks display, East Helena annual rodeo, East Helena Public Schools’ East Helena Fun Run, and the East Helena Barrel Races.

Community stakeholders and other METG partners include:

  • Officials and representatives of the City of East Helena and Lewis and Clark County
  • Public, quasi-public, and nonprofit organizations, including East Helena Public Schools, Prickly Pear Land Trust, East Helena Valley Rodeo Association, Helena Area Habitat for Humanity, and the Montana Business Assistance Connection.
  • City and county residents
  • Businesses and landowners, including Oakland Companies, American Chemet, and Town Pump